the holy

spirit
BY JOYCE MEYER
Unless otherwise noted, scriptures are from the New International Version
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984,
2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified® Bible,
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified Bible,
Classic Edition. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James
Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.

© 2020 Joyce Meyer Ministries

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced
or used in any amount whatsoever without the express written permission of
the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America.

978-1-951225-23-0

Joyce Meyer Ministries

P.O. Box 655
Fenton, Missouri 63026
[Link]
the holy
spirit

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 Table of
Contents

6
INTRODUCTION

10 18
CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 2:
Filled with He’s Everything
the Spirit You Need

29 34
CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 4:
What Does It The Ways He
Mean to Be Led by Speaks to Us

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the Spirit?

41 48
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CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 6:
The Power The Gifts of
to Change the Spirit

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 INTRODUCTION

I can still vividly remember the day, more than

45 years ago, when I cried out to God for His help.
I was struggling and desperate for change in my life.
I was attending church and reading the Bible, but I
knew something was missing.

That day, I prayed, “God, there has to be something more!”

Maybe you have felt the same way. You have desired
more of God’s strength and help in your life but have
been unsure how to receive it. If so, I have great news
for you—you were never meant to face all of the ques-
tions and challenges of life alone. As a Christian, you
have 24-7 access to Someone who wants to lead, guide
and help you through all of life’s twists and turns—the
Holy Spirit.

I think the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives is often

misunderstood. It’s common to hear people talk about
God and Jesus, but the Holy Spirit doesn’t seem to
get the attention He deserves.
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Who is the Holy Spirit? The Bible tells us that God is

three Persons in One: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and begin
a relationship with Him, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell
inside of us—God literally gives each one of us a little
piece of Himself!

So, what does this mean? It means that all of God’s

power, strength, comfort, creativity, help and direction
are available to us at all times. The Holy Spirit is there
as our constant Companion to strengthen and help us...
to guide us into God’s perfect will for our lives.

I think we can often complicate spiritual things. But

over the years, I’ve learned that God is so practical.
He wants to make it easy for us to have a relationship
with Him.

Let me ask you:

• Do you need more strength in your life—mental,
emotional, physical and in every other way?

• Is there an area of your life where you desire to

change but nothing seems to work?

• Would you like to receive God’s supernatural grace

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(the power of the Holy Spirit) to help you face life’s
difficulties with peace, joy and strength?

• Would you like to more clearly “hear from God”

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—receive more direction and make better decisions?

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 If so, I have great news: God didn’t send Jesus to die
for us so we could live weak, pitiful, barely-get-by
lives. He has given us the gift of His precious Holy
Spirit so we can live above our circumstances…so
we can grow, change and become everything God
created us to be.

I’m not sure where you are today in your walk with
God. Maybe you are a new Christian, and you’re
just beginning to read the Bible and learn about the
things of God. Or maybe you’ve been a Christian for
years, but just never really developed a close rela-
tionship with the Holy Spirit.

Wherever you are today, I believe this book is for

you. In these pages, I have included some of the
greatest lessons God has taught me about the Holy
Spirit over the past 40 years. I know when I first
began to understand the amazing relationship I can
have with the Holy Spirit, my world opened up and I
felt like I suddenly had a new best friend to help me
with anything and everything. And I know that God
will do the same for you.

As you read, I encourage you to take your time and

really allow these principles to sink in. Pray about
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what you read and even look up scriptures on your

own. As you do, the Lord will speak to your heart
and begin to show you specific, personal things
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about your life…and how the Holy Spirit wants to
assist you in everything you do.

Remember, you’re not in this alone! You have a Friend

who is always ready and willing to help you. And if you
let Him, He will lead you into the greatest adventure
of your life.

God bless you!

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 - CHAPTER 1 -
Filled with
the Spirit
Luke 10:19 (AMPC) says, Behold! I have given
you authority and power…and [physical and mental
strength and ability] over all the power that the
enemy [possesses]….

I lived many years as a Christian not knowing that

God’s power was available to me. I loved the Lord,
and I went to church on a regular basis. However,
my life was still a mess!

Although I received the Holy Spirit when I was born

again, I wasn’t living in the fullness of His power. Yes,
I knew God was powerful, but I didn’t know I could
have His power in my daily life.

Have you ever felt there must be more available from

God than what you’re experiencing? Maybe you are
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like I was. You are getting through life the best you
can, not realizing there is “something more.”
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If so, you need to know that God never meant for
you to strive or struggle. His will is for you to walk
through every situation and detail of your life in His
supernatural strength and ability. In fact, the Bible
tells us the same power that raised Jesus from the
dead—His resurrection power—is available to us on
a regular basis (see Philippians 3:10).

AN “UPPER ROOM” EXPERIENCE

After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples that
something else was coming—something that would
infuse strength into every area of their lives and
enable them to be powerful witnesses for Him.
That “something” was the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says that days later, as the disciples were

gathered in an upper room praying, Suddenly a
sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from
heaven and filled the whole house where they were
sitting.…All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…
(Acts 2:2,4).

The Holy Spirit gave them new boldness and ability.

In fact, Peter—the one who was so frightened and
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denied Jesus before His crucifixion—began preaching
to the crowds in the streets…and more than 3,000
people gave their lives to Christ!
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 The disciples went on to perform many miracles,
healings, and other supernatural signs and wonders
in Jesus’ name. They began boldly spreading the mes-
sage of the Gospel, laying the foundation for the early
Church. In short, their “upper room” experience had
changed everything.

The good news is this encounter wasn’t just for first

century Christians—it is also available for us today (see
John 3:34). You, too, can be filled with God’s power to
do whatever you need to do in your own life.

ARE YOU READY FOR A POWER SURGE?

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, the
Bible says you are “born again” (see John 3:3). At that
time, you receive the Holy Spirit into your human
spirit. God literally comes and makes your spirit alive.

However, when you are baptized in the Spirit, you are

completely filled with the Holy Spirit. The word baptize
means “to submerge.” So, when the Holy Spirit fills you,
your entire being is infused with His power.

For example, if we took an empty drinking glass and

FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

submerged it into water, it would become engulfed

and filled with that water. This is a simple illustration
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of what I believe takes place when we are baptized in

the Holy Spirit. We become completely engulfed and
filled with the presence of God.
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In practical terms, being baptized in the Holy Spirit
simply means having more of His power and ability
to help us through life!

Jesus Himself was baptized in the Spirit. Mark 1:9-11

says, At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee
and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus
was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being
torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a
dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my
Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

From that day, the Holy Spirit dwelled inside of Jesus

in a special, powerful way, helping Him to fulfill His
destiny. And the Holy Spirit desires to help each one
of us in the very same way.

Let’s look at Acts 1:8. It says, “…You will receive power

when the Holy Spirit comes on you….”

Now, the word power in the verse above is taken

from the Greek word dunamis. This word can be
more completely translated to mean “miraculous
power, ability, might, and strength.”1
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God never meant for us to live weak, powerless
lives—always “running on fumes” and barely getting
by. His desire is for us to be “more than conquerors”
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(see Romans 8:37). He wants to provide us with the

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 strength and ability we need to succeed in life and
be powerful witnesses for Him.

I love Luke 10:19. This verse says that God gives us

authority to overcome all the power of the enemy.
Wow! The Lord is ready and willing to give us every-
thing we need—the choice is up to us to simply
receive it!

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I was baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1976. At that time, I
was born again, but I was still struggling and desperate
for a change.

I’ll never forget driving down the road, when I cried

out to God, “There’s got to be more—there has to be
something more!” I desperately needed God’s power.

Then, right there in my car, God filled me with His

Spirit. I often say it felt like God poured “liquid love”
throughout my entire body.

For about three weeks, nothing seemed to bother me—

not circumstances, not difficult people…nothing. Day
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

after day, people would approach me and say, “What

happened to you? You’re so different!”
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Although those initial feelings calmed down, I knew I

would never be the same. How did I know? Because
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I began to change. I loved God more than ever; I
felt close to Him and had a deep desire to study His
Word. I had wanted to change before, but I couldn’t
do it on my own. Now, I had the power of the Holy
Spirit transforming me from the inside out—helping
me to change my thoughts, attitudes, behavior and
every area of my life.

Acts 1:8 goes on to say, “…You will receive power

when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses....”

I often say that prior to this experience, I was a Chris-

tian, but not a witness. Sure, I would tell people about
Christ, but there was really nothing about my life that
made others want what I had.

However, the Holy Spirit changes us and makes us

more effective representatives for God. Our lives
reflect His goodness, and we become bright lights in
our families, neighborhoods, workplaces and every-
where we go.

That day in 1976 was a turning point in my life. I hon-

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estly can’t imagine what I would be like today if it
wasn’t for His constant help, strength and guidance.

And this amazing gift isn’t just for me or for “some-

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one else.” This life in the Spirit is available for every

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 single believer. Your experience of being filled with
the Spirit may be different from mine, but one thing’s
for certain—God wants to fill you with His power!

IT’S YOURS FOR THE ASKING

Luke 11:13 says, “If you then…know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your Father
in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

There are various ways we can receive the Holy Spirit.

Some people experience a spontaneous move of
God like I did. Others are baptized in the Spirit when
people pray for them. Regardless, the Lord tells us
that all we need to do is ask.

Would you like to be baptized in the Holy Spirit? If so,

you can pray this prayer and ask the Lord right now:

“Father, I am hungry for more of You, and I desire to

have everything You want to give me. The Bible says
You give Your Spirit to anyone who asks, so today I
ask You to baptize me in the Holy Spirit. Fill every
part of my being so I am flooded with Your power
and presence. Take all of me. I surrender all that I
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

am right now in Jesus’ name.”

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If you just prayed this prayer, I encourage you to take

some time and wait quietly before the Lord. Simply
relax and be at ease in God’s presence. You may
not feel any different, but God is doing something
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supernatural on the inside of you. Regardless of your
feelings, choose to believe that you have received.

BEGINNING YOUR NEW LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:18 (AMPC) says, …Do not get drunk with
wine…but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy]
Spirit.

I believe being filled with the Holy Spirit is an ongoing

process—not just a one-time event. So how do we stay
“ever filled”? It comes as a result of spending time with
God through prayer, worship and studying His Word.

In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the

branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will
bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

God is our very source of strength, and the more time

we spend “hanging on the Vine,” the more we will expe-
rience His strength and ability in our daily lives. As we
stay filled with the Spirit, we will live above our circum-
stances and have His joy, peace and hope in everything
we do. We will live our daily lives with a new energy and
be able to show others the incredible love of Jesus!
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There is truly no greater way to live. Because when you
develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, you
step into a new level of God’s strength and provision.
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1. [Link]

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 - CHAPTER 2 -
He’s Everything
You Need
I am so grateful for the help of the Holy Spirit in
my life. I also greatly enjoy teaching others about
the vitally important role He plays in everything
we do.

Through the Holy Spirit, God literally gives each

one of us a little piece of Himself. All of His power,
strength, comfort, creativity, help and direction are
available to us at all times.

In John 16:7, Jesus told the disciples that it was actu-

ally better for Him to go away because then the Holy
Spirit would come. You see, Jesus could only be in
one place at one time. However, the Holy Spirit can
be everywhere, all the time. He can individually help
and guide each one of us at the same time!
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Let’s look at this verse in its entirety. Jesus says:

However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I

say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for
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you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the
Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor,
Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close
fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to
you [to be in close fellowship with you] (AMPC).

Jesus spent three entire years with His disciples, and

during this time He taught them many things. But His
leaving didn’t mean their fellowship with God and the
teaching they received from Him would end. Quite
the opposite! Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit,
who would help them in an even more personal way.

In what ways does the Holy Spirit help us? In this verse,
Jesus uses several different words to describe the
incredible work of the Holy Spirit: Comforter, Coun-
selor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener
and Standby.

Let’s take a look at what each of these mean…

COMFORTER
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NKJV) that God
is the God of all comfort. The Holy Spirit, who dwells
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on the inside of us, knows us better than anyone else,
and when life is painful, He has the ability to bring
strength and healing right where we hurt.
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You see, the comfort of the Holy Spirit goes far beyond
any ordinary kind of comfort. He is the only One who

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 can help heal your pain and carry you through things
like grief, loss and life’s disappointments.

I believe one of the greatest lessons we can learn is to

run to God first when we have a problem. When we
are hurting, so many times we look to other people to
help us feel better, only to discover they don’t have
everything we need. Yes, the Lord will often use others
to bring us comfort, but running to God first opens the
door for Him to help us in the best way possible.

When life gets difficult, I encourage you to take a

moment to stop and ask the Holy Spirit to comfort
you right in the midst of it. Whether it’s someone who
inadvertently hurt your feelings or a larger issue you’re
dealing with, He is able to take the pain…and give you
the comfort and encouragement to keep going.

HE IS OUR COUNSELOR
Did you know the Holy Spirit wants to counsel you?
In fact, He is available at every moment to offer guid-
ance for anything that concerns your life.
HE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED

Over the years, I’ve been continually amazed at what

happens when I ask the Holy Spirit for help and answers
to my problems. I’ll give you a practical example...

I was recently having episodes of feeling really weak

and tired. As I sought the Lord about it, the Holy
Spirit spoke to my heart and showed me that I wasn’t

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eating often enough and my blood sugar was dipping
too low. As a result, I adjusted my diet and everything
went back to normal! When I later went to the doctor,
he confirmed this was the problem.

I can give you example after example of how the Holy

Spirit has counseled and directed me—how He has
shown me things and uncovered answers that have
made a dramatic impact in my life.

Again, God will many times use other godly people

to help give us direction. There is also a definite place
for Christian counseling—sometimes it’s healthy for us
to work through our problems with another trained
professional. But none of this should take the place of
seeking the Holy Spirit for His counsel.

Are you dealing with emotional issues? Do you have

some issues in life that seem too difficult to solve
and you’re ready to throw your hands in the air and
give up?

If so, I want you to try something: Begin planning little

chunks of time to sit and meet with the Holy Spirit,
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your Counselor. Just like you would make an appoint-
ment with a doctor or another professional, treat this
time as valuable and important. During this time, talk
to the Holy Spirit and share your issues and needs.
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Take time to sit quietly and allow Him to minister to

your heart.

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 As you do, you may not receive an answer instanta-
neously, but I assure you that God will begin to bring
clarity, comfort and answers for your life.

HELPER
The Holy Spirit is our “Helper,” and He wants to help
us with every little detail of our lives.

Maybe you are like I was. For years, I felt like it was
okay to bring my “serious problems” to God, but I
didn’t want to bother Him with the smaller things. The
truth is, the Holy Spirit is concerned about everything
that concerns you—whether it’s a “serious” matter like
a relationship issue…or something as simple as fixing
dinner for your family.

We should certainly respect and show reverence for

God; however, it’s important to remember that He is
our Friend. I encourage you to talk to the Holy Spirit
throughout the day, asking for His help and direction
with anything and everything. The more you practice
doing this, the easier and more natural it will become.
HE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED

As I go about my day, I’ll say things like, “Holy Spirit,

I really need Your help and direction as I sit down to
study for this message. Show me what You want me
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to tell the people at my next conference.”

Or if I’m meeting a friend for coffee, I may say, “Lord,

I just want to acknowledge You with this time. Holy
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Spirit, please help us to have a good conversation.
Help me to be a good friend and a good listener.”

There are times when we don’t even know how to pray,

and that’s okay. It may sound simple, but “Help me!”
has become one of my favorite prayers. And the more
we acknowledge the Holy Spirit and ask for help, the
more we’ll discover His presence and ability in every-
thing we do.

ADVOCATE
The Bible tells us that Satan is our adversary. In fact,
it even calls him “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev-
elation 12:10 NKJV). But there’s good news: We have
an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who pleads to God on
our behalf.

He’s not only our Advocate to the Father, but the

Holy Spirit also accompanies us through life—help-
ing us, defending us and giving us favor with others
when we need it. Whatever situation you’re facing,
you can take comfort knowing that God Himself is on
your side.

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Did you know God can give you favor with people in
your daily life? He can give you favor with your boss,
coworkers, and even people who don’t know you.
There have been times when I have even prayed and
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asked for the Holy Spirit to give me favor with sales-

people at the shopping mall.

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 You might think, You asked God for something like
that? Yes! God is concerned about everything that
concerns us. Again, the Holy Spirit wants to be our
Advocate through life and fight on our behalf for the
big and the small.

Do you need an advocate right now? Is there some-

one you need favor with? Maybe there’s someone
you work with who just doesn’t like you for some
reason. Do you know God can give you favor with
them? They can suddenly begin liking you and not
even know why!

I encourage you to begin asking the Holy Spirit for

favor. Ask Him to be your Advocate in every situa-
tion. Then walk confidently through life, knowing
you are never alone.

INTERCESSOR
I don’t know where I’d be without the help of the
Holy Spirit in my prayer life. The Bible says He not
only intercedes on our behalf to the Father, but He
also comes to our aid and helps us to pray when we
HE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED

don’t know what or how to pray (see Romans 8:26).

First Corinthians 2:11 says no one knows the mind of

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God except the Spirit of God. That means regardless

of the situation, the Holy Spirit can always help us
pray the right prayer at the right time.
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The Holy Spirit will also help us to pray and inter-
cede for other people. Many times, He may lead us
to pray for someone and we don’t even know why
until later on down the road.

I’ve heard countless stories of people feeling com-

pelled to pray for a friend or family member, only to
find out later that the person was in danger or going
through a trying time at that very moment. God
always knows!

HE IS OUR “STANDBY”
What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit as our
Standby? Years ago, the Lord gave me a terrific exam-
ple. He said to think of it this way: If you’ve ever been
on “standby” for an airplane, you simply wait nearby
until an opening is available—then you take that
opportunity.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit is standing by, just

waiting for an opening in our lives…waiting for us to
ask for His counsel, guidance and help.

These days, it’s common for people to use their

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phones to look up anything and everything. If my
husband, Dave, wants to find out who won the base-
ball game last night, he can grab his phone and look it
up. Or if we need to find the best way to get to where
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we are going, we can use it to quickly find directions.

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 In the same way, the Holy Spirit is with us, standing by,
ready to help at a moment’s notice! He’s just waiting
for us to ask Him for help, and at any time you can
pray things like, “Holy Spirit, please help me to say
only positive things today.” “Please strengthen my
emotions as I meet with this person.” “Will You please
give me favor today with my boss? I’ve worked really
hard and can really use Your help!”

Friends, I want you to know that God has you covered.

I think many of us have a mindset that says, Oh, I don’t
want to bother the Lord with that. But the truth is
this: The One who knows you the best is the One
who desires to help you the most.

STRENGTHENER
I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use more strength
in their lives—whether it’s mental strength, emotional
strength, or even more strength and resolve in the
choices we make.

Isaiah 40:29 (AMPC) includes an incredible promise.

It says that God …gives power to the faint and weary,
HE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED

and to him who has no might He increases strength

[causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
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I never start a day without asking the Holy Spirit to

strengthen me—physically, mentally and in every
other way. Because no matter how strong, talented
or capable we think we are, every single one of us
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requires God’s strength to accomplish His will and
enjoy our lives.

I encourage you to begin asking the Holy Spirit for

strength as you go about your day. As you do, He
will energize you to do your work, resist temptation
and be kind and loving toward others. I’ve found that
even a short prayer for God’s strength can make all
the difference.

Maybe you’re getting ready to meet with someone

who tends to frustrate you or get on your nerves.
Beforehand, take a few moments to simply pray,
“Holy Spirit, I can’t do this without You. Please give
me the strength to be kind and love this person.”

Or maybe you’re facing a situation that threatens

to overwhelm you. For instance, years ago I battled
breast cancer which required surgery. It was a scary
time, and fear immediately tried to grip my heart.
But God used this time to help me keep my eyes on
Him and cling to Him for strength and comfort—day
by day, even hour by hour.

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God has used 1 Corinthians 10:13 to help me tremen-
dously over the years. It says:

…God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond

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what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will
also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

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 Now, just think about it: Whatever you’re facing
today, God will never allow more to come on you
than you can bear. In fact, He promises to always
provide a way out of every temptation and difficult
spot at just the right time. Life is too hard for us to
handle on our own, and that’s why we need the help
of the Holy Spirit in every situation!

I think it’s good to purposely remind ourselves of this

truth. There are times when things get difficult and
I don’t feel like I can go any further. I will literally say
out of my mouth, “This is not too hard—God will give
me the strength to handle this.”

I believe so many times we can give up right before

our breakthrough. The enemy wants to wear us down
and convince us we’re not strong enough and that
we’ll never make it. But God gives us His Holy Spirit
to help us keep going and cross the finish line. He
never gives up, and His strength never runs out.
HE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED
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 - CHAPTER 3 -
What Does It
Mean to Be Led by
the Spirit?
You’re probably familiar with the phrase “led by
the Spirit.” I know it can sound ultra-spiritual, but
it’s really a very practical part of our relationship
with God. Simply put, to be led by the Holy Spirit
means to be obedient to Him. It means developing
a sensitivity and obedience to His voice as He
leads and guides us through life.

The Holy Spirit does such awesome and practical

work in our lives. Again, He is our Comforter, Coun-
selor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener
and Standby. He teaches us and guides us into truth
(see John 16:13)…and He even brings the things we
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learn back to our remembrance as we need it (see
John 14:26). And the best part of it all is that He lives
in each of us!
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The Holy Spirit teaches and guides us according to

God’s plan and purpose for us. One of the ways He

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 does this is by convicting us (or revealing to us) the
sins in our lives.

I remember when I would go to church every Sunday

and then spend most of the afternoon gossiping about
the pastor or whatever I didn’t like about the service.
Of course, I was not a very happy Christian during
that time, and I couldn’t have been a very good
example to other people either.

But eventually, I began to get this nagging, uneasy feel-

ing every time I would say something negative about
the pastor…or anyone else for that matter. I could feel
that what I was saying was wrong, and I knew in my
heart it was the Holy Spirit telling me it was time to
grow up and mature spiritually.

Today, I am immediately aware when I say or do

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT?

something that is not pleasing to God. And this is

what He wants for all His children: To develop sen-
sitivity and obedience to His voice as He leads and
guides each of our lives.

FREE TO FOLLOW THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:14 declares that …those who are led by the
Spirit of God are the children of God. This term “chil-
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dren” indicates a level of intimacy in our relationship

with Him.
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God is not looking for spiritual robots—He wants sons
and daughters. He doesn’t want us all just following a
bunch of rules for the sake of obedience. In the Old
Testament, we read about the Old Covenant, and
there were all kinds of rules to follow and sacrifices
to make for sin. Under that covenant, the people’s
sins were only “covered” for a while.

But now, in the New Covenant, which Jesus provided

through His perfect sacrifice, our sin is completely
washed away and removed from us. So, we are free
to obey God simply because we love Him, and we
know that everything He tells us to do—or not do—is
for our good.

It’s no longer about a long list of rules and regulations,

but it’s about following the Holy Spirit. We just need
to learn to follow His lead!

It’s actually exciting to follow the Holy Spirit, and I

can tell you that life will never be boring with Him in
the lead. For instance, when I first met my husband,
Dave, I never would have thought God was leading
him to me. But he had been praying for a wife…and
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particularly someone who needed help.

I’ll never forget the day we met. Dave came to the

house to visit a friend of his who lived upstairs
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from me. I was outside washing my car, so he said,

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 “When you finish that one, you want to wash mine?” I
sharply answered, “If you want your car washed, you
can just wash it yourself!”

It had to be the Holy Spirit leading him, because he

says that’s when he thought, That’s the girl for me!
We went on five dates and got married…and the rest
is history!

Now, everyone’s story is different, but the point is

the Holy Spirit wants to lead us according to the
plans God has for each of our lives. I’m not saying it
will always be easy. King David was called a man after
God’s heart, but it wasn’t because he did everything
right. However, David had cultivated a passionate
heart for God’s will. He learned how to recover from
his failures and move on with God. As a result, look
at what the Lord said about David:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT?

“…I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my

own heart; he will do everything I want him to do”
(Acts 13:22).

Our part is to pray, study God’s Word, and learn to

develop our own sensitivity and obedience to the
Holy Spirit’s lead. The more time we spend cultivat-
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ing our relationship with Him, the more sensitive

we will become.
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I love this promise from God found in Ezekiel 11:19
(AMPC). He says, …I will give them one heart [a new
heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will
take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of
their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensi-
tive and responsive to the touch of their God].

Wow! The Lord has given us a tremendous Gift! He

not only gives us His precious Holy Spirit to lead
and guide us through life, but He has also given us
the ability to be “sensitive and responsive.” So, if
you’ve ever wondered if you can be led by the
Holy Spirit, the answer is yes.

Again, I think we can sometimes make these things

sound overly spiritual. However, God is very practical,
and it’s His desire for you to be led by His Spirit in
every area of your life.

I encourage you to take some time each day to study

God’s Word and talk to Him in prayer—even if it’s just
for a few minutes. Throughout the day, talk to the
Holy Spirit like He’s your best friend. Ask Him to lead
and guide you in everything you do.
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As you do—as you begin to develop your relationship
with Him—He will be faithful to lead you into God’s
good plan for your life.
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 - CHAPTER 4 -
The Ways He
Speaks to Us
Life is full of questions, and people look for answers
and guidance in a lot of places. We wonder about
“big” things like who we should marry, what career
path we should take, or the best way to raise our
children.

Every day, we’re also faced with hundreds of “little”

decisions like what to eat, how to interact with others,
how to spend our time...and the list goes on.

The good news is we were never meant to face

these questions and challenges by ourselves. The
Holy Spirit is there as a constant Companion to
strengthen and help us...to guide us into God’s
perfect plan for our lives.

Look what Jesus said to His disciples: “But when He,

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the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all

the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not
speak on His own initiative, but He will speak what-
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ever He hears [from the Father—the message regard-
ing the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to
come [in the future]” (John 16:13 AMP).

I love this! The Holy Spirit wants to “guide you into

all the truth.” And like I mentioned, it’s not just about
the big stuff. He wants to help guide you in every
little detail of your life.

Whether I’m writing a book or simply picking out my

outfit for the day, I know I can call on the Holy Spirit
for direction and help with anything.

GOD IS SMARTER THAN WE ARE

Proverbs 3:5 (AMP) is one of my all-time favorite
scriptures. It says, Trust in and rely confidently on
the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your
own insight or understanding.

I’m a “thinker” by nature. I’m a problem solver, and I

like to get a plan and figure things out. However, these
verses above tell us not to lean on our “own insight
or understanding.” In other words, we’re not smart
enough to run our own lives—we need God’s help!
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I think many times we come to God after we’ve tried
everything else. We can view prayer as a last resort
instead of our first line of defense. When we have a
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problem or a decision to make, it’s tempting to talk to

everyone else and get their opinion.

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 I often ask this question at my conferences: “When
you need advice, do you run to the phone or to the
throne?” In other words, do you immediately call all
of your friends to see what they would do, or do you
run to God’s throne in prayer and seek His supernat-
ural guidance?

There’s certainly nothing wrong with talking to other

people about our issues, and there are times when
God will use the wise counsel of other Christians
to help lead us in the right direction. But we should
always begin by seeking Him for guidance. Remember,
when we seek God in prayer and through His Word,
the Holy Spirit promises to lead us into all truth!

Take it from me: He can give you more direction in just

a few moments than you could receive after weeks of
trying to figure things out on your own!

THE SPIRIT & THE WORD

I often tell people that if they want to receive
direction from God and be led by the Holy Spirit,
they need to commit to being a student of His Word.
THE WAYS HE SPEAKS TO US

Why? Because God uses His Word as the primary

way to speak to us. It is filled with His wisdom,
instruction and commands—it is full of information
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about His will for our lives.

The more we read, study and fill our minds with

God’s Word, the more intimately acquainted we
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become with Him...and the easier it becomes to
know when the Holy Spirit is speaking to our hearts.

In John 14:26, Jesus says the Holy Spirit, “...will teach

you all things and will remind you of everything I
have said to you.”

When we fill ourselves with God’s Word—when we

take the time to really know what it says—we are
cooperating with God to hear from Him. When we
encounter various situations in life and require His
wisdom and direction, the Holy Spirit will help remind
us what His Word says to do.

I can’t tell you how many times the Lord has given
me direction or spoken a word of encouragement
by reminding me of His Word at just the right time.

There was a season in my life when God used Gala-

tians 6:9 to help me persevere and not give up. Over
and over, the Holy Spirit kept reminding me, “Be not
weary in well-doing, for in due season you shall reap
if you don’t faint or give up!”

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This message from the Lord helped me to push
through that season without quitting. I’m so glad
I had taken the time to know what His Word said
so the Holy Spirit could encourage me with it at just
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the right time!

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 THE “STILL, SMALL VOICE”
First Kings chapters 18 and 19 include one of the
classic stories involving the prophet Elijah. I encour-
age you to take some time and read these chapters in
their entirety. But let’s look together at 1 Kings 19:11-12
(AMPC). Elijah was weary, worn out and in desperate
need of a word from the Lord:

And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before

the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a
great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke
in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was
not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake;

And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was

not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle
stillness and] a still, small voice.

I love this example of how the Lord spoke to Elijah

because it’s one of the most common ways that He
still speaks to His people today—through the still,
small voice of His Spirit.
THE WAYS HE SPEAKS TO US

Now, I’m not talking about an audible voice, although

God can speak to us in that way. Rather, the still,
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small voice is a “knowing” deep down inside of us.

We’re faced with decisions every day. Maybe you’re

seeking God about which job to take, what school
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to send your child to or where to live. As you take
time to seek God and listen, He will often guide you
through this knowing deep inside—His Spirit giving
you the direction you need.

One of the most important things we can do to hear

God’s “still, small voice” is to be still before Him and
take time to seek Him. More than ever before, people
today live frantic, hurried and stressful lifestyles, and
this makes it even more difficult to hear God speak.

That’s why taking regular time to get away and be alone

with the Lord is so vital. Get away from all distractions
and interruptions. Take time to pray and read God’s
Word, but also take time to just listen.

I think we can take a great lesson from Psalm 46:10.

The Lord says to us: Be still, and know that I am
God... (NKJV).

I’ll never forget when God was teaching me this lesson

years ago. There were times when I got so busy that
it became difficult to “squeeze God in,” so to speak.
One day, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “Don’t
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try to work Me into your schedule—work your sched-
ule around Me.”

Our time with God is where everything begins, and

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we need to do whatever it takes to protect it, even

if that means not being involved in quite as many

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 groups or activities. But as we do, the rewards are
amazing—God promises that when we seek Him, we
will find him! (See Jeremiah 29:13.)

Now, when we seek God, He may not give us an answer

that very day, but we can be assured that He will pro-
vide the direction we need as we trust Him.

I remember one woman who came to me a while

back. She said, “Joyce, I was really praying and seek-
ing God about something one evening, but I didn’t
sense Him saying anything to me during my time with
Him. I was discouraged. But then a couple days later,
as I was simply walking to the refrigerator to get
something, Bam! He spoke something really specific
to my heart!”

I love this! If you don’t get an answer right away,

don’t worry—and don’t give up seeking God. Because
as you continually stay tuned in to Him, you will get
better and better at hearing His still, small voice.
THE WAYS HE SPEAKS TO US
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 - CHAPTER 5 -
The Power
to Change
Growth and change are a big part of life. In fact,
without change we’ll never truly enjoy our lives and
become everything God has created us to be.

I think one of the greatest lessons God ever taught

me is that we can’t change ourselves—only God
can help us grow and mature. How does He do it?
Growth occurs when we spend time with the Lord
and pursue a more intimate relationship with Him.

When we take time to read and study His Word, the

Bible says we ...are progressively being transformed
into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even
more] glory... (2 Corinthians 3:18 AMP).

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God changes us in degrees—from glory to glory.
Throughout our lives, the Holy Spirit continues to
deal with us and helps us grow from one level to the
next, gradually becoming more like Him.
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 What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to “deal” with
us? It means He’ll cause us to begin noticing things
in our behavior that maybe we didn’t notice before.
Thank heaven, He doesn’t show us everything we
need to change all at once or we’d be overwhelmed!
But God knows exactly how much we can handle and
the perfect time to deal with us about the issues in
our lives.

I’ll give you an example. Over the years, the Lord has
had to deal with me quite a bit about my mouth. I
used to be very harsh, judgmental and critical. And
when it came to my husband, Dave, there were times
when I could be very rebellious or defiant in my tone
with him.

I can remember so many times when Dave and I

would get into an argument, then afterward the Holy
Spirit would speak to my heart and say, “I want you to
go and apologize to him.” But God! I would think. He’s
guilty, too. Why can’t he come and apologize to me?

It used to make me so mad that Dave could “get away

with things” that I couldn’t. But the truth is, the Lord
THE POWER TO CHANGE

deals with each one of us at different times about

different things. I’m not responsible for Dave—I’m only
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responsible to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and

obey what He shows me to do.
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It’s also vitally important to remember that when
God deals with us—when the Holy Spirit convicts us
of something that needs to change—we can’t do it on
our own. It is only through God’s strength that we can
change. It’s only through spending time with Him that
we can become more like Christ.

So, this is what I do now when I sense the Lord deal-

ing with me in an area. I’ll pray, “God, thank You for
shining a light on this area. I know I need to change,
but I also know You are the only One who can change
me. I’m relying on Your grace and strength to help me
as I do my best to obey what You’ve shown me.”

DEVELOPING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is our hope for change in every area
of our lives. And the more we seek His help, the
more we will become like Him.

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) says, …The fruit of the Spirit

[the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish
concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not
the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kind-
ness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control….
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These verses tell us that the fruit of the Spirit—the
result of His presence within us—is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle-
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ness and self-control. You may think, Well, if the Holy

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 Spirit lives inside of me, then why don’t I act more
patient, kind and loving?

I often teach it this way: When we accept Jesus and

begin our new life with Him, the seed of God comes
to live on the inside of us. As we water, nurture and
care for that seed, it produces much fruit in our lives.

In John 15:4-5, Jesus tells us how to water the seed.

He says, “…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it
must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit
unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the
branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will
bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Growth happens from the inside out. We have every-

thing we need to live a great life, but it’s up to us to
nurture and cultivate what is already inside of us.
Again, we can’t do it on our own. It’s only through
spending time with God, studying His Word, and
applying what we learn that we can become more like
Him and develop the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

It’s a process. When I first began my relationship with

THE POWER TO CHANGE

God, I was miserable—I was selfish, self-centered and

only happy when things were going my way. I wasn’t
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happy, and I was making others unhappy!

However, little by little, as I cooperated with God

to develop the fruit of the Spirit in my life, I began
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to grow. For the first time ever, I experienced true
peace and joy, even when my circumstances weren’t
perfect. And God changed me from being someone
who was unpleasant to be around to someone who is
actually pretty kind and loving.

Again, it didn’t happen overnight, but as I continued

to seek God for change, He helped me to get where
I needed to be. I’m still a work in progress and have
a long way to go, but thank God I’m not where I used
to be!

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS

I think when it comes down to it, we all just want to be
happy—we would all like to have some peace and joy.
And here’s the truth: Growing up spiritually is the only
way we’ll ever truly be happy.

You see, people who aren’t spiritually mature are

almost always controlled by their circumstances—
they are only happy when everything is going well
around them. Immature people are often selfish
and make decisions based on how they feel “in the
moment”—a recipe for true misery!
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For years, I was incredibly selfish—I wanted every-
one and everything else to change. I wanted Dave to
change; I wanted my kids to change; and I wanted my
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circumstances to change. But God has a better plan!

He says to us, “I want you to change.”

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 I really want you to get what I’m about to say: God
loves you tremendously. In fact, there’s nothing you
can ever do to make Him love you more than He does
right now! Growing and changing isn’t about trying to
be “perfect” or earning God’s love and approval. Even
if your life is a mess, His love for you is unconditional.

However, the Lord loves you too much to let you stay
where you are. I’ve learned that when the Holy Spirit
shows us an area of our life that needs to change,
He’s doing it out of love—He loves us enough to help
us change.

TOTAL TRANSFORMATION
When I teach on transformation, I often like to use the
illustration of a butterfly. It still amazes me how God
takes a caterpillar—something restricted to slowly
crawling around in the dirt—and transforms it into a
beautiful butterfly that is free to go anywhere it wants.

When it’s time for transformation, somehow the cater-

pillar knows it’s time for a change. So, it crawls up on
a branch somewhere in private and spins a cocoon. In
this cocoon, the caterpillar then completely turns into
THE POWER TO CHANGE

liquid, then forms into something brand new.

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Similarly, when the Lord wants to help us change and

grow, we can sometimes sense that “it’s time.” God
will often begin working in our hearts in very private
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ways—in ways we couldn’t describe to others if we
tried. Then, just like the caterpillar, He begins to
change and transform us into something completely
different—more free and beautiful than ever before.

Sometimes it’s easy to get frustrated with ourselves

and think we’ll never change. I used to have bad habits
and personality flaws that seemed impossible to fix...
but it’s not impossible with God.

That’s why it’s so important to never give up! During

those times when you feel like you’re the worst “worm”
on earth, God is getting ready to put you in your own
little cocoon and produce something beautiful and
brand new.

Remember, spiritual growth is a process. None of us

“arrives” overnight, but little by little, the Holy Spirit
changes us and makes us what we ought to be...He
makes us more like Him.

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 - CHAPTER 6 -
The Gifts of
the Spirit
Although much has been written about the gifts of
the Holy Spirit, I believe it’s a topic that is often
misunderstood. Throughout my years of ministry, I’ve
discovered that many Christians have never heard
about the gifts of the Spirit, while others were taught
that these gifts were only for those living during the
first century.

I had a similar experience—I attended church for

many years and never heard one teaching on the
topic. I didn’t know what the gifts of the Spirit were,
and I had no idea they were available to me!

So, what are the gifts of the Spirit? Let’s begin with
1 Corinthians 12:7-10. It says:

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given

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for the common good. To one there is given through

the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message
of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another
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faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing
by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to
another prophecy, to another distinguishing between
spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

In this passage, the apostle Paul mentions nine gifts:

The word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing,
working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits,
speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

God gives us these gifts to help us in our daily lives and

to help fulfill His will and purpose. When we operate
in these gifts, it also causes those who don’t have a
relationship with Christ to take notice. It demonstrates
His love, power and greatness, and it’s a supernatural
sign to them that God really exists.

It’s important to note that the gifts of the Spirit are

for everyone. They are not just for those who lived in
Jesus’ day or for pastors and ministers. The Bible says
that we all should seek and desire to operate in these
gifts (see 1 Corinthians 14:1).

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WORD OF WISDOM
The book of Proverbs repeatedly tells us to seek
wisdom and do all that we can to obtain it (see
Proverbs 4:5-6). First and foremost, we obtain
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wisdom when we read and study God’s Word.

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 We also gain wisdom through life’s experiences; we
learn what to do and what not to do through trial
and error.

However, when the Holy Spirit gives us a word of

wisdom, He supernaturally shows us how to handle
a situation in a way that is beyond our own ability
or experience.

Many Christians frequently operate in this gift without

even knowing it. We may say something to another
person that seems ordinary to us, but to them it is a
life-changing answer to their situation.

In the same way, God can use people we don’t expect

to get His message across to us. For instance, there
have been times when the Lord has used someone
to give me a word of wisdom or direction, and that
person didn’t even realize the significance of what
they were saying!

God is the source of all wisdom, and I have learned

that He can use anyone or anything to speak to us
and give us guidance.
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
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Receiving a word of knowledge is similar to receiving a

word of wisdom. When the Holy Spirit gives us a word
of knowledge, He reveals something to us about our-
selves or others that we would otherwise never know.
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On several occasions, the Holy Spirit has given me a
word of knowledge about someone else concerning
a difficulty they were going through or a major deci-
sion they were making. Sometimes, God led me to
simply pray for the person. Other times, He led me
to share the word of knowledge with them because
it would bring direction or comfort.

I’ll never forget the time God gave a word of knowl-

edge to my husband, Dave, concerning an issue in my
life. At the time, I was having a difficult time teaching
at my conferences—something I wasn’t accustomed
to experiencing. As I shared my messages, nothing
seemed to flow, and it began to really frighten me.

I knew something had to change, so I was praying

and seeking God for answers. That’s when my hus-
band shared the word he received. Through Dave,
the Lord reminded me of how I had recently crit-
icized another minister’s teaching style in front of
some other people. Because of my wrong actions
and attitudes, I was hindering my own ability to
teach God’s Word.

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At first, I got mad at Dave because it’s not what I
wanted to hear. But as I prayed about it, the Lord
showed me that the word He had given my husband
was correct. I instantly repented and asked God to
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forgive me. Then, from that point on, I no longer had

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 any problems while I was teaching. This made a major
impact on my life. The Holy Spirit used Dave to show
me something that I wasn’t seeing on my own!

The Holy Spirit will also give us words of knowledge

for ourselves—for major life decisions or even smaller
everyday problems. For instance, one time I couldn’t
find my glasses anywhere; I searched all over the
house and was becoming frustrated.

I stopped for a second and simply prayed, “Holy

Spirit, please help me find my glasses.” Instantly,
I could picture my glasses between the couch
cushions. I went to look and, sure enough, there
they were! The Holy Spirit told me something in
my spirit that I didn’t know in the natural.

THE GIFT OF FAITH

The gift of faith allows a person to believe God for
something that others would see as impossible.

For instance, God gives people the gift of faith for

specific occasions like going on dangerous mission-
ary trips or dealing with challenging situations. They
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

have complete faith for something that would abso-

lutely terrify others.
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Some people have a gift of faith to pray for the sick

and believe they will be healed. Or they may have faith
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for a specific area of healing such as cancer. I have
known people with a gift of faith to be givers in an
extraordinary way—it makes them confident, and they
step out to do things others wouldn’t do.

The gift of faith makes a person unusually bold.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are able
to accomplish the impossible and what they never
could on their own.

THE GIFT OF HEALING

In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus says that certain signs will
accompany those who believe in Him. He says, “…they
will place their hands on sick people, and they will
get well” (verse 18).

All throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to pray

for healing. In Exodus 15:26, God says, “…I am the Lord,
who heals you.” And in 1 Peter 2:24, it says, “…by his
wounds you have been healed.” Healing is one of the
things Jesus died to give us. This includes healing in
our physical bodies, minds, emotions and every area.

While every single one of us is encouraged to pray

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and believe for healing, the Holy Spirit will cause
certain individuals to operate in a “gift of healing” at
times. Quite often, these people are also operating in
the gift of faith, because the two gifts go hand in hand.
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 For example, the late Kathryn Kuhlman (1907-1976)
was used by God in a healing ministry. When heal-
ings began to occur in her public meetings, she was
as surprised as anyone. A healing ministry was not
something she sought out, but it was a gift from the
Holy Spirit. These healings strengthened people’s
faith and caused many unbelievers to develop a
relationship with Christ.

The good news is God’s healing power isn’t limited to

certain people, times or places. His healing is for today,
and it’s for everyone. Although His healing may not
come in the exact way or time we expect, He wants
us to trust Him to handle our situations in the way He
knows is best.

MIRACLES
Miracles are things that cannot be explained—things
that do not occur through ordinary means. We all
can and should pray for God to do miracles in our
lives. However, God will cause certain individuals to
operate in the gift of miracles—to allow the working
of miracles to flow through them.
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

There are many kinds of miracles: miracles of provi-

sion and supply, miracles of deliverance, miracles of
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healing, and others. During His time on earth, Jesus

performed many miracles. He turned water into
wine (see John 2:1-10), He fed a multitude with a little
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boy’s lunch (see John 6:1-13), and He raised Lazarus
from the dead (see John 11:38-44).

God is still performing miracles today. For example,

Dave and I have a friend who is a missionary. Sev-
eral years ago, as he was teaching at his very first
meeting in a foreign land, faith rose up inside of
him and he began to pray for the sick who were in
attendance. Suddenly, miracles began to happen: the
blind received their sight and crippled people began
to walk again. God went on to use our friend in this
way on many occasions.

Like the gift of healing, God uses miracles to increase

our faith and draw people to Him. He wants us to
remember that with Him, all things are possible
(see Matthew 19:26).

PROPHECY
Through a gift of prophecy, God uses people to reveal
His will to others and bring instruction, encouragement
and even correction at times. Similar to receiving a
word of knowledge, the Holy Spirit causes someone
to supernaturally know something about another
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individual.

Someone with this gift may prophesy to one person

or even to an entire church congregation. Sometimes
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a prophecy is more general, while at other times it

can be very specific.

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 In most cases, a prophecy will simply confirm what
God is already revealing to someone’s heart. Let me
give you an example. In 1985, I was trying to decide if
I should leave my position as an associate pastor at
my church. I had a strong desire to step out into my
own ministry and believed that God was leading me
to take my ministry “north, south, east and west.” I
wanted to step out, but I was afraid. I didn’t want to
make a mistake.

During this time of decision, God had several people

prophesy to me. They all shared the same basic mes-
sage: “God is calling you to go out. I see you going
north, south, east and west and holding meetings.”
None of these people knew what God was speaking
to my heart, and they had no idea that others were
prophesying the very same things to me!

The prophecies I received during that season of life

all confirmed what I already knew in my heart. They
increased my faith to step out and obey God. In fact,
if I wouldn’t have stepped out when He directed
me to do so, I probably wouldn’t be in a position to
share His Word with as many people as I do today.
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
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First Corinthians 12:10 (AMPC) says the gift of

discerning of spirits is …the ability to discern and
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distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits
[and false ones]….

This is a spiritual gift that allows people to discern

between what is good and evil—what is from God
and what is from the enemy.

Acts 16:16-18 includes a great example. While in Philippi,

the apostle Paul was met by a fortune teller, a woman
who continued to follow him and shout predictions
about his future. Although some of the things she
said to Paul sounded true, the Holy Spirit helped
him to know that she was being controlled by the
enemy, not God.

Although we may not deal with many situations

exactly like Paul’s, the gift of discerning of spirits
allows us to know the true nature of who we are
dealing with—whether they are good or evil;
whether they have good intentions or not.

For example, someone may appear to be doing a good

thing, yet we may feel wrong about that person on the
inside. This is often the Holy Spirit’s way of warning us
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that the person’s intentions are not what they seem.

The Holy Spirit desires to lead and guide us in

our decisions, and He always knows what’s best,
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 so it’s important to listen to what He is speaking to
our hearts.

THE GIFT OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES

When we speak in tongues, it is a spiritual language—
it is the Holy Spirit speaking directly to God through
us. Although we are speaking in a language that doesn’t
make sense to our minds, it is extremely powerful.

The Bible says that when we pray in tongues, we are

speaking “secrets and mysteries to God” (see 1 Corin-
thians 14:2). In fact, the apostle Paul tells us that pray-
ing in tongues is one way to pray a “perfect prayer”
when we don’t know what or how to pray.

In Romans 8:26 (AMP) he says, In the same way the

Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We
do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it
as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need
and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with
sighs and groanings too deep for words.

Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 14:4 that praying in

tongues strengthens our spirits—it’s a way to strengthen
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

and improve ourselves. So, through the power of His

Spirit, God has given us a supernatural way to pray for
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ourselves and others!

Acts chapter 2 tells us about the day of Pentecost,

when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’ disci-
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ples. Acts 2:4 says, All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as
the Spirit enabled them.

Like the disciples, many people begin to function in

this gift when they are baptized (or filled) with the
Spirit. They sense this new language rising within
them.

You may have a similar experience. If so, your part is

to simply open your mouth and begin to speak out
these new syllables and sounds. Don’t try and figure it
out—just release it. This language is coming out of your
spirit, and it won’t make sense to your mind.

If you pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and do

not immediately begin to speak in tongues, don’t be
discouraged! It’s important to remember that every-
one’s experience is different, and God has a perfect
plan just for you. If you prayed and asked in faith, then
you received the Holy Spirit and His power is flowing
through you, whether you speak in tongues or not.

I know that for some people, speaking in tongues

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represents the unknown…or maybe they have been
taught something that prevents them from wanting
to know more. I personally believe that Satan fights
hard to keep people from truly understanding this
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gift because he knows it’s so powerful. Like all of

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 the gifts of the Spirit, God has given us the gift of
speaking in tongues to help us in our daily lives and
to fulfill His purpose.

THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES

The gift of tongues has more than one purpose.
As I mentioned, when we pray in tongues, we are
allowing the Holy Spirit to pray a perfect prayer
through us. Praying in tongues strengthens and
builds us up.

In addition, God also uses the gift of tongues in a

prophetic way to share a message of instruction or
encouragement with others. It is most commonly
used in church settings and on occasions where a
group of people are assembled.

In 1 Corinthians 14:27, the apostle Paul teaches about

speaking in tongues within a church setting. He says,
If anyone speaks in a tongue…someone must interpret.

Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, a person who

operates in this gift suddenly knows they should speak
in unknown tongues for everyone to hear, although they
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

themselves usually don’t know what the message is.

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The Holy Spirit then uses someone else to interpret

the message of tongues. This person supernaturally
knows what God is saying and then shares it with the
group (see 1 Corinthians 14:27).
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God uses this gift in a church setting to encourage
and give direction. In addition, the Bible says it is
a sign to unbelievers that God exists and interacts
with His children in supernatural ways (see 1 Corin-
thians 14:22).

DEVELOPING THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Again, if you’re like me, you may have grown up
without hearing about the gifts of the Spirit at all.
And while it can be easy to avoid things we don’t
understand, it’s important to remember that God
gives us these gifts to bless our lives and provide
us with valuable direction.

I reached a place in my relationship with the Lord

when I decided that I wanted everything He has to
give me. If I wasn’t sure what something meant, I con-
tinued to study His Word and sought Him for answers.

The single greatest thing we can do to operate in

our spiritual gifts is to spend time with God—study-
ing His Word, talking to Him in prayer and including
Him in all of our decisions. Ask Him to speak to you,
guide you and use you to help others.
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Remember, the Holy Spirit is our Companion for life.
And just like we grow closer to other people through
spending time with them, we develop our relationship
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with the Holy Spirit in much the same way—through

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 an ongoing relationship that continues to grow and
become more intimate.

GIFTS FOR EVERYONE

As we conclude this chapter, I want to share an
important passage of Scripture. The apostle Paul
says, We have different gifts, according to the grace
given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then
prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serv-
ing, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to
encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving,
then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently;
if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully (Romans 12:6-8).

I really love these verses because they teach such

an important principle: Every single one of us is born
with God-given gifts and talents, and we should work
with the Holy Spirit to develop these gifts throughout
our lifetime. These gifts are given to us for our own
enjoyment, to benefit others, and ultimately bring
glory to God.

The Bible says we are all part of one body, and

we each have an important part to play (see 1 Corin-
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

thians 12:12-27). Some people are born with a natural

gift to build things, while others can play the piano or
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guitar. Some have a knack for business and offering

financial advice, while others excel in the medical
field or know they are called to be a really great
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mom or dad. Whatever your gifts are, these gifts
have been given to you by God, and He wants you to
reach your greatest potential!

I think it’s easy for people to consider some gifts to be

more spiritual than others. I’ve had people say to me,
“Joyce, I wish I could have a ministry just like yours.”
There’s certainly nothing wrong with admiring some-
one’s gift, but God doesn’t want you to be just like
someone else—He desires for you to be the best you
possible. When you are functioning in your God-given
gift, it honors Him and blesses those around you.

I encourage you to take a few moments to think about

the gifts God has given you. Ask the Holy Spirit to
help you find new ways to develop and cultivate your
talents. Because there is no one on this earth exactly
like you, and with His help, you can walk in the good
plan He has for your life.

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 - SALVATION - A
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Accepting Jesus Christ is the first step toward receiving
God’s supernatural help and strength in your life. It’s the
foundational element on which you can build everything
else. The moment you realize your deep need for God, you
begin an amazing journey into His plan for your life.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can

do that right now. Just open your heart to Him and pray this
prayer…

“Jesus, I know that I have made mistakes and I need You

to save my life—I need You as my Savior. I have tried to do
things on my own for too long, and I know it doesn’t work.
So, today I give my life to You. I believe that You died on
the cross for my sins and that You rose from the dead.
Help me to live my life for You and You alone. Thank You
for Your unending love, forgiveness and grace in my life.
Thank You for a fresh start! Today, I start out my new life
as a part of Your family.”
Check out these Scripture verses for some encouragement
about your new life in Christ: John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4;
Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 4:14-15;
1 John 5:1; 1 John 5:12-13

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NOW WHAT?
If you just prayed that prayer, we’re so excited to welcome you
into God’s family! We also have some scriptures and encourage-
ment to share with you. To help you get started on your journey
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with Jesus, visit:

[Link]/KnowJesus

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BKL305 The Holy Spirit 65

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author
and one of the world's leading Bible teachers.
Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches prac-
tically and candidly, openly sharing her experiences
and helping millions of people to apply biblical
principles to their situations and ultimately find hope
and restoration through Jesus Christ. Her book Bat-
tlefield of the Mind has been a perennial bestseller,
teaching people how to win the war in their minds
and “think about what they think about.” Joyce holds
conferences across the United States and around
the world, and her Enjoying Everyday Life program is
broadcast on TV, radio and online to millions in over
100 languages. She has also authored over 135 books,
which have been translated into 160 combined
languages.
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BKL305 The Holy Spirit 66

 JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
Sharing Christ—Loving People

Joyce Meyer Ministries is called to share the Gospel,

disciple nations and extend the love of Christ.

Through media we teach people how to apply biblical

truth to every aspect of their lives and inspire them
to serve the world around them. Through our mis-
sions arm, Hand of Hope, we provide global human-
itarian aid, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, rescue
and uplift women and girls, and reach out to people
of all ages and in all walks of life.

Joyce Meyer Ministries is built on a foundation of

faith, integrity and dedicated supporters who share
this call.

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To view additional resources from Joyce Meyer Ministries,
to watch our most current Enjoying Everyday Life show, or
to receive information about our missions outreach Hand
of Hope, please visit [Link]
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BKL305 The Holy Spirit 67

 He’s Your
Guide for Life

Learning to Be Led by the Holy Spirit

BY JOYCE MEYER

You weren’t meant to walk through life alone!

In these four teachings, Joyce shares how you
can invite the Holy Spirit into everything you do…
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and let Him guide you all along the way.

[Link]/store
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BKL305 The Holy Spirit 68

 Are You Looking for
“Something More”?
We were never meant to face life’s challenges alone! God has given us
the gift of His Holy Spirit to be our constant Companion—to lead, guide
and help us in everything we do.

In this book, Joyce teaches about the incredible role of the Holy Spirit
and how He can provide you with the strength, comfort, creativity and
direction you need to thrive…and enjoy the big, full, exciting life God
has planned for you.

In this book, you will learn:

• How to receive help with all of life’s daily decisions—big and small
• The key to receiving God strength and comfort during difficult times
• How to recognize God’s “voice” in your everyday life
• The way to develop your talents and become the best you possible

As a Christian, you have 24-7 access to Someone who wants to

strengthen and guide you through all of life’s twists and turns. And if
you let Him, He will lead you into the greatest adventure of your life.

ISBN 978-1-951225-23-0

90000>

[Link] (800) 727-9673

/JoyceMeyerMinistries @JoyceMeyer
@JoyceMeyer /JoyceMeyer 9 781951 225230
© 2020 Joyce Meyer Ministries BKL305/013991